Shabbat Blast

Dear Congregation Beth Ohr,

Our double Torah portion, Vayakhel-Pekudei, actually puts muscle behind the plans of the Mishkan, the travelling Temple in the desert. A plan with no individuals, who have the will and skills, goes nowhere. It simply stays tucked away on a shelf. A blueprint is nothing without a creator, someone to take ownership and pride, and a creator is nothing without a blue print. We are builders, created in the image of God, the essence and spark of creation.

There is an interesting Midrash that says that the Torah is a blueprint for the world and therefore, was created even before the world was created. This always struck me as a little funny. I imagined a Torah scroll floating through nothingness, no stars, no planets, just this Torah scroll. This is a much too literal reading of this Midrash.The Torah is not a biology or astronomy text book. It is a book of eternal wisdom and this Midrash serves to convey the enduring and infinite nature of its teachings. It is both boundless and also binding at the same time. Our relationship with Torah is like that of a hug. A hug is restrictive; your arms at that moment cannot go anywhere else, but not for the purpose of being chained. The hug envelopes you and insodoing conveys love, belonging, and connection. I feel that way about Torah. This relationship gives structure and meaning. It shapes how I view our history and our present. It guides my actions, but with love and a calling for commitment. 

If you're curious how you might develop a relationship like this with such a fantastic blueprint, join us on Satutday mornings, 9:00-9:45 AM. We study, discuss, challenge and love the text. 

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Bernstein

Guarding the Flames for 24 Hours
Sign up (as a pair or more) to sit vigil with 6 candles representing the 6 million Jews lost. You will sit and reflect in silence, read about the Holocaust, recite the names of those who perished.